For: OrtonsMistress

From: NickyK

Title: White Christmas

A/N: not sure I gave you what you wanted but I at least hope you enjoy it. I have a hard time doing fluff but gave it my best shot! Merry Christmas!

Prompts:
Snow
The "family"
Presents

Snow fell like rainfall from the darkened sky. Fat white crystal flakes landed on leafless tree limbs and empty city streets, blanketing the outside world in a blinding sea of white. Director Jennifer Shepard stood at her office window, a frown creasing her brow as she watched it fall. The weather forecast had predicted up to six inches of snow. Mother Nature was obviously feeling a bit more generous, Jenny thought wryly.

The snow had been falling steadily for the last several hours and showed no sign of letting up. Jenny remembered as a child, she'd always been fascinated by the snow – watching it pile higher and higher, anticipating the moment when she would be allowed to go out and play in it. How much fun she'd had trying to catch the flakes on her tongue. Jenny let out a wistful sigh. Those days were long. Nowadays snow just reminded her of long cold days and even longer cold lonely nights.

Jenny shivered, despite the fact that she could not feel the cold through her office windows. She'd had her assistant, Cynthia, send out an agency-wide email an hour ago directing everyone that didn't need to be there to leave before the roads became impassable. Looking out her window now, she wondered if she shouldn't have taken her own advice. Jenny hadn't given her own circumstances much thought since there was no one at home waiting for her, no one to wonder whether she would make it home safely or not. Now she began to regret that she'd sent her driver home.

Turning away, Jenny sighed at the amount of work she still needed to get done tonight. Deciding that she could work from the comfort of her own home as well as she could from the NCIS offices, Jenny gathered what she needed, snagged her coat and headed for the door. So focused was she on finding her keys and getting to the elevator, she nearly yelped when she almost collided with a figure walking pass the stairs leading to it.

"Oh, sorry, Director. I didn't see ya there," said Special Agent Tim McGee, an apologetic grimace gracing his features. "Are you okay?" He asked, holding his hands out as if to steady her.

Jenny nodded though her heart was pounding from the fright. She had just assumed the offices would be empty by now. "Yes, Tim, I'm fine. I just didn't expect anyone to still be here." She frowned. "What are you still doing here?"

"Just finishing up a report, ma'am" he told her as he headed to his desk.

Jenny ignored the ma'am. Her gaze followed him and was surprised to see her senior agent's whole team still at their desk. Perplexed, she walked further into the bullpen. By-passing the three younger agents, she went directly to the gray-haired man in charge. Jenny knew, despite being the head of this particular agency and technically their boss, the younger agents were not going to leave until Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs told them to do so.

"Jethro," she greeted.

"Director," he responded slowly, dragging out each syllable. He didn't look up.

Jenny rolled her eyes. "What are you still doing here?"

"What's it look like?" he countered, giving her an annoyed look over the rim of his glasses.

Digging for patience, Jenny said. "The weather is getting worse. I told everyone to leave an hour ago."

"You also told us, Director, not to leave until our reports were finished. Kinda difficult to finish up a report in an hour when you just wrapped up the case forty-five minutes ago."

"Really, Jethro? You choose tonight of all nights to listen to me," she exclaimed, exasperation edging into her voice. "The reports can wait. It's really getting bad out there. Dismiss your team and go home, Jethro." She leaned down so only he could hear. "That's an order."

It was supposed to come out firm, like a command even though they both knew more often than not her orders to him fell on deaf ears. Instead, it came out low and soft, almost seductive.

His blue eyes shifted to hers and Jenny could feel the warmth of his breath on her cheek, making her realize suddenly how close they were. "Whatever you say, Madam Director," he murmured, the intensity of his blue gaze making her warm all over.

Jenny blinked but didn't move. They'd been doing this for a while now- this back and forth flirting and then pulling away. Frankly she wished he'd make his mind up already. Although, to be fair, Jenny had to admit, if only to herself, that she was pretty sure she was the one sending mixed signals. Some days she wanted to strangle him, while others it was all she could do to keep from throwing herself at him. That, she thought with some irritation, is what this time of year did to her – made her wish for those Paris days when neither of them hesitated to do what came naturally and she didn't feel quite so…alone.

"Anything else, Director?"

Gibbs lifted a brow and Jenny felt her face flush with embarrassment; especially when she remembered that his team was there and no doubt taking it all in. She straightened and backed away from his desk.

She cleared her throat and said hastily. "Goodnight, Jethro." And pretended not to see his knowing smirk when he answered with a brisk, "Director."

She turned on her heels and headed for the elevator.

Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs watched the shapely backside of one Jenny Shepard until she and it disappeared inside the metal box. He wasn't sure what to make of her hot and then cold act but he could tell he was getting to her. Aware that his most seasoned agent and resident busy body was watching him, he stood. "Well you heard the Director, wrap it up and get out of here."

"With pleasure, Boss," Tony DiNozzo replied gleefully, slinging his bag over his shoulder. He'd begun shutting down his computer the moment he heard "dismiss your team". He had plans with a leggy blonde and had every intention on keeping them.

Gibbs shook his head as McGee and Ziva rolled their eyes at Tony's eagerness, having heard about Tony's escapades for the evening far too much in the past 72 hours.

The elevator dinged and Gibbs turned, expecting to see Jenny. He was about to offer some flippant remark about her missing him already but stopped when he saw Ducky and Abby stepping out of the elevator instead. He frowned.

"Abby? Duck? What are you guys doing here? Thought Jenny told everyone to go?"

"Ah, indeed she did, Jethro. I offered to give Ms Scuito a ride home once she finished securing her lab. At last, it took a bit longer than anticipated and now we find ourselves stuck."

"Stuck, Ducky? What happened?" ask Tim, his eyes raking over Abby as if to make sure she was ok.

"We're fine, Tim," Abby said. "But unfortunately, the roads aren't. There was a huge wreck up the road from here. It's bad. All the roads going out are shut down. We can't get home."

"Are you sure, Ducky? Jen just left. Maybe they've cleared it up by now."

"Doubtful, my boy. The guards assured us that it would be several hours before the roads are cleared. I'm afraid the Director won't get very far."

No sooner had he said the words, the elevator dinged again and a very agitated Jenny Shepard stepped out.

Walking into the bull pen she gave Ducky a puzzled look. "Ducky, what are you doing here? Abby?"

"Same as you, I presume."

Tony stood and looked at Jenny. "So it's true? We're stuck here? Please say it ain't so," he begged desperately.

"Sorry Tony, but the roads are closed. No one is getting in or out of here for at least a couple of hours, maybe longer."

"Awww… but its Christmas Eve," pouted Abby.

"It is?"

The words were out of Jenny's mouth before she had time to stop and think about the telling significance of that one simple question. Heat flooded Jenny's face as all eyes turned to her incredulously.

"Please tell me that was not a serious question, Director," said Tony.

"How can you forget Christmas Eve?" asked Tim.

"This isn't even my tradition and I knew that it was Christmas Eve," chimed in Ziva.

The comments flew at her and Jenny lifted her head, despite her growing embarrassment.

"I…I've…been-been busy and the date just…uh…it…just…uh…escaped me," she finished lamely, wondering if she looked as flustered as she sounded. She refused to look at Jethro.

Ducky chuckled good-naturedly. "Well, my dear, I'm sure it's happen to all of us at some point," he said, giving her a gentle pat on the arm. Jenny ducked her head, fairly certain that none of the people standing before her worked as hard as she did to "forget" Christmas let alone Christmas Eve. Nevertheless, she was grateful for Ducky's rescue. "Now,' continued Ducky, "I suggest we all get comfortable. It's going to be a long night, hmmm."

"This can't be happening," Tony grumbled, dropping his bag back onto his desk. "I can't believe I'm stuck here. What about blondie long-legs?"

Ziva rolled her eyes. "I am sure you can survive the night without blondie long-legs. And why do you keep calling her that? Do you even know her real name?" she hissed irritably.

"Of course, I do," replied Tony, looking unsure. "What's it to ya, anyway?" he snapped defensively.

"What a way to bring in the holiday," McGee mumbled miserably, his eyes flickering between the scowling Ziva and the wallowing Tony.

"Well," Jenny began, "I suggest finishing up your reports since you now have the time."

"Really, Jen," Jethro growled.

She turned to him, irritation flashing in her eyes. "Well, Jethro, what do you suggest? Had you followed orders, you and your team wouldn't be stuck spending the night at NCIS on Christmas Eve," she snapped.

"Well maybe if you hadn't been so unreasonably uptight about paper work getting done, me and my team wouldn't have been here."

"Unreasonably uptight?" Jenny exclaimed. "Do you have any idea how…"

Abby's eyes widened as she looked around. Tony, Ziva and Tim were snapping insults at each other, while Jenny and Gibbs seemed hell bent on playing the blame game, despite the fact that their bodies seemed to be almost leaning into each other. Her eyes whipped around to Ducky's strained face as he tried to fade into the background of their ridiculous arguments.

Abby had enough. This was not how she was going to spend her Christmas Eve. "Guys," she yelled to no effect.

"Hey!" she tried again. And again, they kept arguing over her.

Suddenly a shrill sharp whistle pierce through the room and everybody stopped, turning their shock gazes to the source.

"Thanks Ducky," she said beaming at him.

"Anytime, my dear."

"Guys," she began more quietly now that she had their full attention. "This isn't how I want to spend my Christmas Eve, not with each of you fighting. Christmas Eve isn't about hooking up with some stranger or going home alone to an empty house," she said softly. "It's about spending it with family, sharing stories, eating cookies and exchanging gifts. I know we don't have the cookies or the gifts but what we do have is family. Guys, we are a family," she whispered earnestly. "Maybe not in the traditional sense but in the way that matters most." She stopped and let her gaze settle on each one of them. "Can we please not fight? We're stuck here so let's make the most of it. Yeah, we're at work but it doesn't have to be miserable, does it?" she finished wistfully.

"Well said, Abigail," Ducky murmured into the silence.

Jenny was the first to speak. "You're right, Abby," she said softly. "This isn't the time to fight and argue." She turned addressing the group but her voice remained quiet. "You all should relax, put on some Christmas music and try to make the most of the night."

"Well, we might not have traditional holiday cookies but I happen to know where we can get other treats. What do you say, Tony, shall we rake the vending machine?" invited Ziva.

"That's raid, Ziva, not rake, but yes, we shall," he replied, grudgingly accepting the olive branch she'd extended in his direction, though he was certain she would have gotten that idiom wrong too.

"If you want some Christmas music, I can pipe it through the intercom," McGee volunteered. "If that's okay with you, Director?" he added hastily.

Jenny smiled. "That's fine, Tim."

"I've got a deck of cards in my lab. Oh, and I think there's some microwave popcorn in the break room too," Abby said cheerfully.

"Alright, Abigail, I guess, that's leaves me to get the drinks. A little help, Jethro?"

"Right behind ya, Duck."

Jenny forced a bright smile. "It sounds like you all have it figured out. I'll be in my office if you need me. Enjoy yourselves," she said and walked away.

Abby sidled up to Gibbs and slapped him on the back of the head.

"Ow," he grumbled, shooting a glare at Tony when he heard the younger man snicker. "What was that for?" he complained turning back to Abby.

"Gibbs, what's a party without both parents to chaperone? Stop her," she whispered fiercely pointing in the direction Jenny had gone. She gave him a little push, "go on."

"Alright, alright," he said, though really, he didn't really need to be convinced.

He caught up with her on the landing, her hand just about the turn the doorknob into her office.

"Jen."

She turned, pausing to give him a questioning look.

"You're part of this dysfunctional family too, ya know," he said softly.

She smiled politely at him. "Thanks, but I've got…"

"Don't spend Christmas Eve alone working in your office, Jen," he said gently, moving in closer when she didn't respond. "Aren't you tired of being alone?" He was so close; his voice low and deep. His blue eye searched her face, falling to her lips before meeting her gaze. "I know I am."

Jenny swallowed hard. Her tongue darted out to lick her suddenly dry lips. "What are you proposing?" she asked, eyes widening at the low husky sound to her own voice.

"For tonight?" he shrugged, "Spend Christmas Eve with me… with us. Let's see where it goes."

Jenny cocked her head to the side. "I don't need your pity, Jethro." Her words held no hint of anger, just a resigned sadness.

"Frankly Jen, I'm not sure what you need." His tone remained neutral but his eyes were focused intently on hers. "I'm not sure I can give you what you're looking for." He gripped her waist and tugged her closer, his breath fanning her face. "But what I do have to give is this: I can love you, Jen-any way you want, any way you need… I can do that."

Jenny's breath hitched as her body moved under its own volition to press into him. "Don't play with me, Jethro." She warned.

"I'm not."

Her eyes filled and she blinked rapidly to clear them. She stared into his blue orbs as if she could see his sincerity. "You mean it?" her voice was shaky, her knees a little wobbly and she felt as if all her vulnerability was out on display with that one whispered question.

"Wouldn't've said if I didn't." His tone was light but his eyes were serious as they stayed steady on hers.

She gave him a watery smile as she slipped her hands up his chest. "I think that's the best Christmas Eve present I've ever gotten."

"Naw, that's not the present, Jen," he said we a smirk, "this is." And with that his lips covered hers.

"How long do can they do that without air, Ducky?"

"Maybe they're stuck?"

"Ow! Well, they've been at it for a while."

"And to think, we didn't even need to rig the mistletoe."

"Think they'll mind if we start the party without'em?"

A pause.

"Nope" the voices said in unison as White Christmas began to drift through the intercom.